Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

In following Senator Mooney's comments, which set the tone on another issue today, as did other contributions, I compliment the Leader on his handling of what was a difficult interview. He was barracked continuously but in my view handled it in a very fair and balanced way in regard to the constitutional requirements and obligations of this House.

I say to Senator Mooney that of course we want meaningful legislation. However, regardless of a review, constitutionally this House, as much as the other House, has to deal as required with all legislation, meaningful or otherwise. As Senator Norris pointed out, the House has an excellent record in handling legislation, as I believe Senator Mooney would agree. Many amendments down through the years have been accepted in this House and various Ministers of different political persuasions have paid serious compliments to this House regarding its standard of debate. They have often been - I will not say not more obliging but more persuaded - by the weight of the arguments proposed to accept amendments in this House more than they have done in the other House.

Despite the barracking he received from an interviewer who was doing what he was paid to do, the Leader got across, in addition to legislation, the usefulness of the public consultation committee set up by this Seanad and the question and answer format we have very usefully employed with Ministers, thereby getting them to be more responsive and accountable to this House.